From legendary symphony orchestras to well-established amateur choirs, the Midlands classical music scene is alive and thriving. Here are some of the concerts you can enjoy in the region across the next few weeks...

 

BBC PHILHARMONIC

Residing at the Corporation's Manchester home of Media City in Salford Quays, the BBC Philharmonic are no strangers to Stoke-on-Trent, regularly presenting Victoria Hall concert-goers with works from their impressive repertoire. This latest presentation sees conductor Leslie Suganandarajah (pictured) being joined by soloists Tobias Feldmann (violin) and Jonathan Scott (organ) for a programme that features the Overture to Mozart’s Magic Flute, Beethoven’s Violin Concerto and Saint-Saëns’ third symphony. 

Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Fri 3 February

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DVORAK STRING SEXTET

Antonín Dvorák’s String Sextet is a classic example of the 19th-century Czech composer doing what he did best - creating music first and foremost for his own pleasure. But plenty of others have revelled in its magnificence as well. Written in a two-week period in May 1878 and widely praised for its showcasing of Dvorák’s spontaneous invention, the composition comes complete with themes that have been described as ‘flowing with Slavonic blood’. Strauss’s Sextet from Capriccio also features.

CBSO Centre, Birmingham, Fri 3 February

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ARMONICO CONCORT: BIG BYRD! 

The always impressive Armonico Consort are joined in Malvern by the English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble to mark the 400th anniversary of the death of one of Britain’s greatest composers: William Byrd. 

Offering the audience a rare opportunity to immerse themselves in Byrd’s musical world, the concert explores not only the composer’s work but also the output of musicmakers by whom he was inspired and upon whom he himself had an influence. 

Malvern Theatres, Sat 4 February 

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EX CATHEDRA: BYRD'S GREAT

“Music is a force for good,” says Jeffrey Skidmore (pictured), founder & conductor of early music ensemble Ex Cathedra. “We are reminded constantly of this in our work: it can change lives, uplift, inspire; it can bring people together, and it knows no boundaries! It is a universal language that is fundamental to human existence.” 

The power of music is much in evidence in the compositions of William Byrd, the 400th anniversary of whose death is here being marked by Ex Cathedra. 

“Byrd’s Great is a lavish programme of liturgical choral music,” says Jeffrey. “It’s accompanied by cornetts and sackbuts, a viol consort and the sound of the Tudor organ.” 

The concert also features a rare performance of Thomas Tallis’ iconic 40-part motet, Spem in alium. 

Birmingham Town Hall, Sun 5 February

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JARUALDA QUARTET

“Our name is a fusion of all our names,” explains the Jarualda Quartet, “because our interdependence is at the core of our ethos. We are all equally important, and a good quartet is always about more than the sum of its parts.”

Comprising violinists Alex Postlethwaite & David Joyce, viola player Jane Park and cellist Ruth Henley, Jarualda boasts a wealth of experience, with all four of its members being much in demand as soloists, chamber musicians and section principals. 

The quartet’s Ludlow concert programme features works by Beethoven, Henley and Ravel.  

Ludlow Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, South Shropshire, Wed 8 February

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BIRMINGHAM PHILHARMONIC

One of the UK’s most widely acclaimed non-professional symphony orchestras, the Birmingham Philharmonic here present a programme of work which takes their audience on a ‘grand tour’ of Europe; from Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture - an evocation of the stormy west coast of Scotland - to his high-spirited fourth symphony, inspired by Italy. 

Sandwiched between these two compositions is a seldom-heard Romanian wind decet from Enescu and a lilting serenade for strings from the Midlands’ very own Edward Elgar. Michael Lloyd conducts.

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Sun 12 February; St Mary’s Church, Cleobury Mortimer, South Shropshire, Sun 19 February

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THE ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

Since its formation in 1946, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra has operated under the directorship of some of the world’s most respected conductors, Rudolf Kempe and Andre Previn among them. 
Based in the beautiful surroundings of Chelsea’s Cadogan Hall, the orchestra is no stranger to the recording studio, regularly laying down soundtracks for films and enjoying a long partnership with many of the major commercial record companies. 
The RPO is here making a welcome return to Coventry having twice featured in Warwick Arts Centre’s 2021/22 orchestral series. The programme features Joseph Haydn’s 10th opera - L’isola disabitata - Mozart’s ever-popular 1791 Clarinet Concerto, and Beethoven’s third symphony.

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Wed 15 February

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LATINO CLASSICO

When Colombian pianist Ivan Guevara and English cellist Graham Walker met 25 years ago, they began playing Latin songs using classical instruments. Recognising the combination’s potential, the pair invited other musicians to join them - and Latino Classico was born. 

The award-winning ensemble - who draw on the familiar bolero and tango as well as less-well-known rhythms such as the pasillo and joropo - have recorded six albums across the years, the most recent of which, Havana Classic, was released in the summer of 2022. 

Blackburn Theatre, Prestfelde School, Shrewsbury, Fri 17 February

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DORIC STRING QUARTET

Highly rated by the influential Gramophone magazine, the Doric are this year celebrating their 25th anniversary. 

The quartet tour extensively, collaborating with some of classical music’s finest performers, and have received plenty of plaudits for their recordings across the years. 

Comprising Alex Redington and Ying Xue (violins), Hélène Clément (viola) and John Mysercough (cello), the ensemble are performing as part of the Leamington Music line-up for a fifth time, on this occasion presenting a programme that features compositions by Beethoven, Berg and Smetana. 

Royal Pump Rooms, Leamington Spa, Fri 17 February

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MICHAEL CHRISTIAN DURRANT & JONATHAN RADFORD

Guitar and saxophone come together in perfect harmony for this latest concert at Bromsgrove School. 
Michael Christian Durrant has been hailed a forerunner in the new generation of classical guitarists, while Jonathan Radford’s impressive reputation as a saxophonist has seen him performing internationally as both a soloist and chamber musician.

Routh Hall, Bromsgrove School, Fri 17 February

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CBSO PLAYS PROKOFIEV & SIBELIUS

The exceptionally gifted Isata Kanneh-Mason (pictured) has been making significant career headway over the last few years, winning the 2021 Leonard Bernstein Award and topping the classical charts with her debut release, Romance: The Piano Music Of Clara Schumann. 
The sister of Sheku Kanneh-Mason, who was named BBC Young Musician back in 2016 - becoming the first Black entrant to win the competition since its launch in 1978 - Isata here gets her teeth into Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No3... The concert also features Freya Waley-Cohen’s ‘completely new vision’, Demon, and begins and ends with Sibelius - The Oceanides to start, and then, bringing down the curtain, his fifth symphony. Ilan Volkov is the conductor.  

Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Wed 22 February

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ARMENIAN STATE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

“I view myself as being a vessel for the composer’s intentions,” explains former BBC Young Musician winner Jennifer Pike (pictured) - who claimed the coveted title at the tender age of 12. “It isn’t the performer who everyone should be coming to enjoy, it’s the composer’s music.” 

Jennifer is bringing her violin to town to accompany the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra.          Possibly Europe’s youngest national orchestra, the ASSO is here performing under the baton of founder & Artistic Director Sergey Smbatyan. 

The programme features Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio Espagnol, Khachaturian’s Violin Concerto, and Tchaikovsky’s masterful fourth symphony.

Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Thurs 23 February

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THE GESUALDO SIX

“I felt something click when we came together to rehearse for the first time,” says director Owain Park in talking about  award-winning vocal ensemble the Gesualdo Six, “and I don’t think we’ve looked back since then! The special feeling of hyper-engaged musicmaking, coupled with a good deal of enjoyment in each other’s company, has meant that this group has stuck together and embarked on an exciting journey.” 
The ensemble are here making their fourth appearance in Warwick. 

St Mary’s Church, Warwick, Tues 28 February